Q. See question above. I have heard that some remain seated during the Hakofes of Simchas Torah when holding a Chumash or a small paper Sefer Torah used by children, is that correct?
A. Although, as mentioned in the prior question, some Poskim are stringent and demand to stand during Hakofes, there are others who are lenient and maintain that the minhag and custom of many is for the ones that are tired and weary to seat (Shulchan Hatohor 149: 2, Aruch Hasulchan 669 and others). Some maintain, that if the Sifrei Torah are kept in an inner circle and there is an outside dancing circle that separates, one can seat in the expanded outside area.
Other Poskim opine that it is only prohibited to seat when the Sefer Torah is being carried to a distinct final area and not when constantly remaining in a moving circle. (See also Piskei Teshuvos 669: 2).
Although Poskim permits the one carrying a Sefer Torah to remain seated when a Sefer Torah goes by, Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that it does not apply to one holding a Chumash or a small paper Sefer Torah used by children,
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a.